11 Sep Diabetics on Statins May Have Fewer Microvascular Complications

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Børge G. Nordestgaard, MD, DMSc
Professor, University of Copenhagen
Chief Physician, Herlev Hospital, Copenhagen University Hospital
Dept. Clinical Biochemistry
Herlev Ringvej Herlev, Denmark

Medical Research: What are the main findings of the study?

Dr. Nordestgaard: Among all patients with diabetes in Denmark during 1996-2009 and compared with non-statin users, statin users had a 40% lower risk of diabetic retinopathy, a 34% lower risk of diabetic neuropathy, and a 12% lower risk of gangrene of the foot, while the risk of diabetic nephropathy was similar.

Medical Research: Were any of the findings unexpected?

Dr. Nordestgaard: Yes, we expected that the risk would be higher for microvascular disease among diabetic statin users, while we observed the opposite.

Medical Research: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?

Dr. Nordestgaard: Although statins may increase the risk of diabetes slightly while reducing cardiovascular disease markedly, there seems to be no increased risk of microvascular disease in patients with diabetes on a statin.

Medical Research: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Dr. Nordestgaard: Whether or not statins are protective against some forms of microvascular disease, a possibility raised by our data, and by which mechanism, will need to be addressed in studies similar to ours, or in mendelian randomisation studies, but preferably in randomised controlled trials.

Citation:
Statin use before diabetes diagnosis and risk of microvascular disease: a nationwide nested matched study
Sune F Nielsen PhD,Prof Børge G Nordestgaard MD
The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology – 10 September 2014
DOI: 10.1016/S2213-8587(14)70173-1

Last Updated on September 11, 2014 by Marie Benz MD FAAD